Narrative review on the protection provided by antioxidants to attenuate oxidative stress induced by environmental pollutants: Promising preclinical evidence and challenges of translational application

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Authors

1 Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Hourani Center for Applied Scientific Research, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan

2 Department of Medicine, Termez University of Economics and Service, Termez, Uzbekistan

3 Department of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine, Samarkand State Medical University, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

4 Department of Faculty and Hospital Therapy, Rheumatology and Occupational Pathology No. 1, Tashkent State Medical University, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

5 Department of Therapeutic Nutrition Techniques, College of Health and Medical Technologies, Alnoor University, Mosul, Iraq

6 Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq

7 Vipasha Sharma, Department of Biotechnology, University Institute of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, India

8 Centre for Research Impact & Outcome, Chitkara University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Chitkara University, Rajpura, 140401, Punjab, India

10.22124/cjes.2026.9740

Abstract

Exposure to environmental pollutants, including heavy metals, PM2.5 particles, and pesticides, produces high levels of ROS, leading to oxidative stress and medical diseases. Antioxidants, including vitamins (vitamin C and vitamin E), polyphenolic compounds (resveratrol and quercetin), flavonoids, and plant extracts, were found to provide healthful benefits due to their ability to lower ROS production and enhance endogenous antioxidant systems. The present review highlights the available scientific evidence about the effects of antioxidants as potential treatments for oxidative stress caused by environmental pollutants. Antioxidants consistently reduced malondialdehyde levels, enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase), improved histological changes, and reduced cell injury, apoptosis, and inflammation in the liver, kidneys, lungs, brain, and reproductive organs exposed to lead, cadmium, PM2.5, and other pollutants. Some human studies, mostly in occupational settings, suggest effectiveness in decreasing oxidative biomarkers (8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and total antioxidant capacity). However, despite the promising results reported in preclinical animal and in vitro studies, only two human studies met our inclusion criteria (one observational occupational study and one interventional topically applied study).

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References

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Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences

Articles in Press, Corrected Proof
Available Online from 09 July 2026

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